Tag: railroad

Remembering Henry Villard, the Renowned 19th-Century Railway Financier, Through the Eyes of His Great-Granddaughter

Her name alone is nearly poetic, but it is history and grandeur that give Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave her befitting nomenclature. She is the great-granddaughter of Henry Villard, a Bavarian native who came to America with only 20 borrowed dollars in his pocket—only to make groundbreaking financial ventures and become president of the Northern Pacific…


Historic ‘Skunk Train’ Offers Rides Through the Redwoods

FORT BRAGG, Calif.—Along Northern California’s coast, the world-famous Skunk Train attracts visitors to Fort Bragg from near and far. A cheery man wearing glasses, blue overalls, a black T-shirt, and a black cap drives the steam train. He is Stathi Pappas, the Skunk Train’s general manager. The Skunk Train line includes five historic trains and…


Rail Strike Threat Rebounds as Some Unions Reject Deal in Ratification Talks

The threat of a U.S. freight rail strike remains possible, as some rail unions have yet to ratify last week’s tentative deal reached by their leadership, with some local members already rejecting the terms. If just one of the unions decides to reject the brokered deal, the agreement would collapse and strikes may begin. The…


Tentative Deal Reached With Rail Workers to Avert Strike, Shipping Chaos

President Joe Biden has announced that a tentative deal has been reached between U.S. railroads and unions to avert a rail strike and service shutdown that threatened to wreak havoc on cargo shipments and disrupt the economy. Biden said in a statement on Sept. 15 that the tentative deal between major U.S. railroads and unions…


Biden Administration Prepares for Potential Nationwide Railroad Shutdown

The administration of President Joe Biden has been preparing a contingency plan to ensure deliveries of critical goods by keeping other transportation lines functional should thousands of union rail workers go on strike following stalled labor negotiations, according to a White House official. “We are working with other modes of transportation, including shippers, truckers, and…


First Railroad Union Votes to Authorize Strike as Deadline Looms

The first railroad union has voted to authorize a strike as the “cooling off” period in negotiations nears the end. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) members voted to reject a tentative agreement with railroads, the union said in a statement on Sept. 14. The approximately 4,900 members also voted to authorize a…


Railroad Union Becomes First to Authorize Strike as Deadline Looms

One of the unions representing U.S. rail workers has voted to authorize a strike as a “cooling off” period in negotiations nears its end. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) members voted to reject a tentative agreement with railroads, the union said in a statement on Sept. 14. While the approximately 4,900 members…


US Railroad Unions Warn of Cargo Delays as Contract Deadline Looms

LOS ANGELES—Two unions negotiating contracts for almost 60,000 workers at major U.S. freight railways on Sunday said those employers are halting shipments of some cargo to gain leverage ahead of this week’s deadline to secure labor agreements. Unions and railroads, including Union Pacific, Berkshire Hathaway’s BNSF, CSX, and Norfolk Southern, have until a minute after…


Suddenly (1954)

In the city of Suddenly, three gangsters trap the Benson family in their own house, on the top of a hill near the railroad station, with the intention of killing the president of the USA. Credit: Public Domain Movies – Feature Films: Cinema collection: epochcinema.com Epoch Original content: epochoriginal.com Feature Films: www.theepochtimes.com/featured-films * Click the…


James J. Hill, the Ambitious 19th-Century Railroad Tycoon Who Helped Bring Prosperous Trade to America’s Northwest

Of Irish heritage, James J. Hill grew up on the Canadian frontier. Despite the loss of vision in his right eye after a hunting accident at age 9, little “Jim” was a savvy fisherman and expert hunter, both with his handmade bow and his rifle. Raised by a Catholic mother and a Baptist father, Hill…